Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-11-03

:" Middlemarch, :" they have so trained
themselves that, by the help of nice
clothes, sweet voice and placid de
meanor, they appear outwardly to be re
fined.
There are, we believe, many people IL
very humble stations in life who are truly
refined in their feelings who are yet quite
unpublished outwardly. Their hearts are
right; they have the consideration fol
others, which is the very basis of refine
ment.
There are also others in good society
whose natural sweetness of disposition
constantly shows itself in kind and gentle
words and deeds toward all. No effort is
needed on their part to be courteous and
amiable, for they feel so, and naturally
their outward manners are but the reflex
of that which is within. Such persons
are charming; they like everybody and
everybody likes them. We all know few
such, and are thankful.
The chief desideratlm seems to be a
good heart. If we truly love our neigh
bors we can not fail to be kind and sweet
to them. And if we are Indifferent, all
the care we. take of our manners, all our
studied refinement, all our stylish CONVEX
satiOn will be as dust and ashes.
There are those who find it difficult to
care for their neighbors. They wish them
well, but DO not want to be bothered with
them. They always try to be civil, but it
is uphill work, and they are glad when the
trial is over. Their refinement " may
make them smile and bow and say eyes
and "No'' at proper intervals. But have
they nothing more? Is there no interest
felt except in their departure?
Nothing is valuable unless genuine.
Who cares for paste diamonds and imita-
ton cut glass? Outward polish is of
slight worth without the true refinement
of the heart.
l was riding the other day in nobby
little dog cart over high ridge of the
Allegheny Mountains. That part of the
world that one could see this side the belt
of purple hills that clasped the horizon,
was all afame with sumach kindle d
against background of billowy golden
rod. The asters learned over the sides
of the rocks like purple-clad lilies from
turret windows, and the blackberry vines
and scorched clematis made of every
fence-corner the court of gypsy queen.
Suddenly the grey pony that drew me
halted of his own will before little hut
in the bushes, windowless and forlorn as
pen built for brute. At its low door
way there stood, on pair of shadowy
legs, loosely draped in a horse blanket,
an old man whom they call the Hermit
of the Alleghanies. His breast was bare,
his hair unshorn, and his surroundings
squalid in the extreme. For twenty
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never walked or journeyed twenty rods
from his hut. Of course, woman was
the cause of his long exile. Whatever
fate befalls lazy, goodfor-nothing
Adam in this world, twas "the woman
did if, good Lord" The original Adam
has handed down that one trait to all his
boys right surely.
"I've been awful SICK" whined the old
fellow, ''and was afraid was going to
die!"
afraid you we're going to die?"
thought I. "And what do you want to
go on living for you poor old forgotten
fossil? It's hard enough to live with
friends about you, and the warmth of
friction with other lives to keep the
blood from stiffening about the tired
heart, but for such as you to go on cling
ing like parasite to the tree of life is
monstrous! And the good Lord spares
you year after year while He daily plucks
a bud of promise Or a glorious cluster
from the branch whose loss turns day to
endless night for uncontrolled hearts,
Well, well, my Dear, it's a queer world
any way-like a jewel box full of paste
diamonds Or a garden full of milliners'
roses. while the unseen world claims the
purest gems and the sweetest flowers.
Good niphtt AMRFR